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Former Taiwanese President Lee Teng-hui ’68 Ph.D., after undergoing minor heart surgery in Japan on Tuesday, confirmed yesterday that he would postpone his visit to the United States for about one month. The visit, which was slated to begin next Monday, also included a three-day stop at Cornell, his alma mater, so that the 78-year-old retired leader could visit his granddaughter and attend ceremonies for the establishment of the Lee Teng-hui Institute in Duffield Hall. “The delay is due to my physical condition,” Lee told reporters while on a plane heading back to Taipei from Osaka, according to Kyodo News. Lee’s visit to Cornell is now planned for May 29-31. “The doctors advised that he rest up before making the grueling trip,” said Linda Grace-Kobas, director of Cornell news service. Stabilizing A source close to the former president said his condition has yet to stabilize, adding that the five-day cardiac treatment at a hospital in western Japan took longer than expected, Muzi News reported. What was intended to be a simple post-operative check-up for the cardiac surgery Lee underwent last November, became more serious when doctors had to perform an unexpected coronary angioplasty surgery to correct further narrowing of his arteries. Hung Jui-sung, Lee’s personal Taiwan cardiologist who accompanied Lee to Japan, said that while the treatment went well, the former leader needs further medical attention upon his return to Taiwan, The Taipei Times reported. Inclement Weather He also said that the current cold weather on the East Coast is not suitable for Lee, given his condition. Kazuaki Mitsudo, the renowned Japanese physician in charge of the operation, said the procedure went smoothly and Lee can be considered much healthier than in November, when he last had an angioplasty in Taipei, Muzi News reported. Because of the new operation, Mitsudo said, a follow-up examination six months from now will be compulsory. However, it will not be necessary for Lee to return to Japan for the checkup. Although Lee has now returned to Taiwan for a few weeks of rest, the delay will not change the nature of his quiet visit to his alma mater, according to Henrik N. Dullea ’61, vice president for University relations. Even though he will be coming in the middle of the summer when the regular academic term is no longer in session, he will still refrain from making a public appearance, with the exception of a short photo opportunity for the press. “This will remain a low-profile visit. We don’t have any plans to change the basic program at all,” Dullea said. Lee was granted a five-year “tourist visa” to the U.S. last Saturday, the same day that Japan issued Lee a visa on “humanitarian grounds.” Lee stayed in Osaka and Kurashiki throughout his trip, honoring the Japanese government’s wish that he stay in western Japan, according to Muzi News. The typically outspoken Lee also refrained from making any politically sensitive comments that might exacerbate Japan’s already strained relationship with China. The visit, Lee’s first to Japan since a short stopover as vice president of Taiwan in 1985, drew concentrated media attention, with some 200 reporters from Taiwan and Japan covering the scene. Lee’s decision to postpone the U.S. trip may have been a bid to calm political tensions in East Asia, as Beijing has vehemently protested Lee’s Japan visit, according to some observers who voiced their opinions in Muzi news. The one-month delay could reduce U.S.-China tensions as well as cool relations between China and Taiwan, which have come under great strain following the Bush administration’s recent announcement on arms sales to the island. Grace-Kobas, however, said she believed that the recent political difficulties had little impact on Lee’s choice to push back a short, private visit to his alma mater. “The decision doesn’t appear to be related to the current political situation,” Grace-Kobas said. She added that postponing the visit, which would have coincided with Slope Day, may make the colossal celebrations more manageable for the University. “A few people were getting worried; It’s a massive event that requires all of the University’s attention and much of the surrounding community’s as well,” Grace-Kobas said. “We’re sorry that [Lee] has to rest for health reasons, but the delay will make Slope Day a little easier for us.” Archived article by Jennifer Roberts

An amazing run came to a quick end last night as the softball team (30-16, 11-3 Ivy) fell to Syracuse in both games of its double header, 4-1 and 2-0. The Orangewomen entered the game 15-22 on the season, having split games with Penn State on Tuesday. This sweep is the first by a Red opponent since Fairfield beat the team twice in March. Missing from the Red’s line up was its superb hitting. What had become a Red trademark failed to make the trip north with the team. Head coach Dick Blood acknowledged the team’s troubles at the plate. “We didn’t hit, we didn’t hit anything,” he commented. Erin Sweeny opened the scoring in game one with a first inning blast giving the Red a 1-0 lead. This, however, was the only time the Red would see the lead for the remainder of the opener. Senior Captain Charlotte Brombach noted the team’s troubles. “It was pretty tough,” she said. “Erin Sweeny hit a homerun, [and] then after that we couldn’t produce.” The night cap saw senior Nicole Zitarelli pitching what Blood called a brilliant five innings. However an error with two outs and two runners on in the fifth gave the Orangewomen the only runs it would need for the win. After allowing a single to Shanna Newell and a free pass to Tara DiMaggio, both with two outs, Zitarelli seemingly escaped the jam by fielding Cortney Nickerson’s comeback grounder. An error by Zitarelli on her throw to first, however, let the two runners cross the plate for a 2-0 lead. The team tried to battle back but was not able to produce. “We threatened once in each game,” commented Blood. “But their pitchers were very tough.” Despite the outcome, Brombach remained positive stating that “the loses were disappointing but good preparation for this weekend.” This preparation Brombach mentioned is for a double header tomorrow at Albany (18-17). Despite just skimming above a .500 record, the Danes are a tough ball club. Last year the squad posted a 28-7 record earning an ECAC bid. The team’s strength lies in its defense, especially its hurlers. On the mound, Albany has two very solid pitchers that will be looking to shut down the Red’s offense. Of this weekend, Blood is very upbeat. “We are looking forward to those games as a tune up for NCAAs or the playoffs if necessary.” He later added that he is “looking forward to the games this weekend to get back on track.” Getting back on track will be very important in order to keep its momentum for the postseason. The Red’s postseason destiny is actually out of the team’s control right now. Its fate will be decided on Saturday as Dartmouth and Harvard compete in a double header. A sweep by either team will find the Red in a playoff for the automatic NCAA bid. However, a split will give Cornell the outright league title and the automatic bid. Archived article by Kristen Haunss